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Kansas libraries are the sixth best in the country, according to a new ranking in this month's issue of American Libraries magazine.

The rankings also listed Johnson County Library as one of the top 10 in the country.

There was no ranking given for the Lawrence Public Library, but it scored higher than average for libraries in Kansas and for those in cities with a population of 50,000 to 99,999, said the library's director Bruce Flanders.

The rankings were part of by the Hennen American Public Library Rating Index, which considered 15 factors in ranking 8,752 libraries, Flanders said.

The factors include how much is spent on each library per person, per year; the number of full-time staff members; the number of materials; and number of visits, he said.

Based on the criteria, Kansas libraries ranked sixth in the country with an average index score of 563 points out of 1000.

Ohio libraries were ranked No. 1 with an average index of 669.

The Lawrence Public Library was given an index score of 688.

The average score for cities with a population of 50,000 to 99,999, Flanders said, was 499.

The Johnson County Library had a score of 867.

The ranking, Flanders said, "is somewhat of an incomplete picture, but it's a starting point."

-- Michael Dekker's phone message number is 832-7187. His e-mail address is mdekker@ljworld.com.